President Obama pleased--and surprised--many environmentalists with his remarks on climate change in his second inaugural speech on Monday. "We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children -->

President Obama pleased—and surprised—many environmentalists with his remarks on climate change in his second inaugural speech on Monday. "We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations," Obama said. "Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms." It wasn't just a fleeting mention, an obligatory nod to climate change alongside a host of other base-pleasing agenda items. In a short, 2000-word, 15-minute speech, Obama used nine separate sentences to lay out his belief that dealing with climate and finding sustainable energy sources are an obligation to posterity.

"I was pleasantly surprised," says Felice Stadler, senior director of the climate and energy program at the National Wildlife Federation. "It was the first time that we heard a clear signal from him that he believes in the science."

But like other enviros, Stadler tempers her enthusiasm with caution. She hopes Obama's comments on climate change mean he will put serious political weight behind the issue in his second term. But what Obama will actually propose in terms of policy—and how hard he'll push for those proposals—remains to be seen. "I think the time is now to continue the conversation and not to sit quietly and wait for some undefined moment in the future," Stadler argues.

There are good reasons to believe Obama may act. The economy now looks brighter than it did four years ago, and health care reform is out of the way, which creates an opportunity for Obama to deal with a legacy issue like climate change. But "the proof is in pudding," says Erich Pica, president of Friends of the Earth. "We'll know in next few months how serious he is on climate change." Pica, whose group was the first environmental group to formally endorse Obama back in 2008, now dubs himself a "skeptical Obama environmentalist." He gives the president's first term a "C, maybe a C+," noting that he's "feeling a little generous... because of the inaugural address."

Melinda Pierce, deputy national campaign director for Sierra Club, says her group is now putting all its attention on Obama. Congress "has become a place where good ideas go to die," Pierce says. "We are narrowly, myopically focused on the kind of actions that can come from the executive branch... I don't have great hopes of what Congress can deliver."

As Pierce hinted, there's a long list of things Obama could do fairly quickly to demonstrate his commitment to the environment: denying the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, finalizing greenhouse gas rules for new power plants, writing rules for planet-warming emission from existing power plants, and improving fuel economy standards for long-haul trucks and other heavy vehicles like they did for cars and light trucks, to name a few.

The first few weeks of his second term will provide an opportunity for Obama to prove his commitment to the goals he voiced Monday morning, Pierce notes. Nearly all of the members of the "Green Dream Team" he appointed in the first term have signaled their plans to leave: the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have made formal announcements, and several others are expected to follow suit. Green groups will look at the president's choices to head those agencies as an early indicator of his plans for the second term.

"We're happy that President Obama was reelected, but we can't let that happiness overshadow the amount of work we have to do," said FOE's Pica. "We can't give him free passes."
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Wednesday January 23, 2013, 8:04 am
One can only hope that for once, the rhetoric will turn into action. We cannot afford for it not to. This is a hopeful sign yes, but, we have seen hopeful signs before and found disappointment on the other side. Thank you Kit for the share.

Wednesday January 23, 2013, 8:53 am
For one of two candidates that openly ran in fear fast from any mention of climate change during the campaign, Obama has, at last, managed to say something on the subject. The problem is that we are all running out of time. Talk won't stop climate change. We need action.

Wednesday January 23, 2013, 4:15 pm
I too am pleased and surprised to hear these words from the President. I will be both delighted and surprised to these these words become significant actions. We can certainly hope so.
Thanks for the story Kit.

Wednesday January 23, 2013, 5:26 pm
Thanks Kits. This particular climate change, is here for however long it takes to stabilize. There is no stopping the cycle in place, but perhaps, some modification by we humans will help. May be to late even for a slight improvement.

We humans have not just been tinkering with the planet, we waged and continue a whole scale war on our home. Subdue Nature to humans terms, seemed to be the call to arms for thousands of years and continues. In my view, our current world environmental condition is Thanks to some religious/political leaders/fanatics through out our historical time on this earth. Climate change is a normal cycle, but we humans have potentially, made it sooner and probably more severe. We must "hang on" for the ride and quit intentionally killing other life forms. They may be our survival net, though I'm not sure we deserve one.

Thursday January 24, 2013, 12:17 am
Thanks Kit. If anybody would do anything about it it would be President Obama since he seems to have a good grasp and understanding of important issues that go right over the heads of the conservatives that just don't care.

Thursday January 24, 2013, 3:50 am
President Obama has already acted to reduce a major cause of climate change--population growth. By spearheaing the Contraceptive Mandate and Medicaid Expansion, he has increased the availability and affordability of contraceptive medications, devices and procedures.

The President is not omnipotent. For example, he thwarted development of the Keystone XL Pipeline but yesterday 53 U.S. Senators (including some Democrats) signed a letter ramping up this development.

Thursday January 24, 2013, 10:47 am
Better late than never. Now it's up to US to keep the pressure on and this means convincing the naysayers that we NEED to do this - we must also convince them that it would create new jobs. When Obama says, "We the People....", it means he is counting on us to help....

Thursday January 24, 2013, 12:17 pm
Well, I must have misplaced my crystal ball, do not "know" whether or not he really means it, this time, but I sure as hell hope so,
This time, he may feel unhindered by the prospect of a coming election, and go something like full bore after the bull and stonewalling of the power industry, and its lackeys in congress.
A president, despite the inertia of congress, has the opportunity to LEAD the culture from his/her "Bully Pulpit," give it a sense of direction, for better, or for worse (Ron Reagan and the greed years).

Thursday January 24, 2013, 5:51 pm
I do not expect much. Do you think that Lisa Jackson will announce her stepping down if Obama means to do anything about climate? Also, let's see who will be the next Secretary of the Interior; Raul Grijalva, endorsed by 238 environmental and social justice organizations, or somebody who will follow Ken Salazar's footsteps. Announced changes in Pres. Obama Cabinet were not signalling a new political course. While we wait for words to be confirmed with actions, we must keep doing our best to avert the worst consequences of climate change.

Thursday January 24, 2013, 6:03 pm
Tens of thousands of Americans are making plans to be in Washington DC on February 17th to tell President Obama to move forward on climate and reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

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I think we need to hold his feet to fire. The United States acting alone will not resolve the climate or pollution issues, this must be full international agreement, enforced and supported fully by every country.